Housing device

ABSTRACT

A housing device  10  includes a movable pulley unit  20  and a movable pulley holding mechanism. The movable pulley unit  20  is provided so as to be movable relative to the housing  12  in an up-down direction, and is movable among a first position at which a long object is housed within the housing, and a second position at which the long object is pulled out from the housing. Whereas the long object is pulled out from the housing when the movable pulley unit  20  moves upward, the long object is housed in the housing when the movable pulley unit moves downward. Between the first position and the second position, the movable pulley holding mechanism switches between a state where the movable pulley is movable downward and a state where the movable pulley is immovable downward.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology disclosed in the present specification relates to ahousing device which houses a long object (e.g., a charging cable, anelectrical cord, a hose, etc.).

BACKGROUND ART

A housing device which houses a long object such as an electrical cordhas been developed (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2010-52861). The housing device in Japanese Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2010-52861 includes a drum mounted rotatably to ahousing, and an electrical cord is wound on an outer peripheral surfaceof the drum. The electrical cord is pulled out from the drum by arequired length when being used, and is wound up after being used.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In such a housing device, it is convenient if it is possible toautomatically house the long object in the housing device after the longobject is used. When this function is added. to the housing device inPatent Literature 1, it is conceivable to bias the drum in a winding-updirection by a spring. In the case where such a configuration isemployed, when the long object is pulled out, the drum rotates againstthe biasing force of the spring and elastic energy is stored in thespring. After the long object is used, the drum rotates in thewinding-up direction by the elastic energy stored in the spring and thelong object pulled out from the drum is automatically wound up on thedrum.

However, the configuration in which the drum is biased in the winding-updirection by the spring has a problem that as the length by which thelong object is pulled out is lengthened, the operating force of anoperator for pulling out the long object is increased to be excessivelygreat. When the spring constant of the spring which biases the drum isdecreased in order to solve this problem, it is possible to prevent theoperating force of the operator from becoming excessively great.However, when the spring constant of the spring which biases the drum isdecreased, the elastic energy stored in the spring is reduced and thusthe force biasing the drum in the winding-up direction is reduced. Thus,a situation occurs where it is impossible to stably wind up the longobject on the drum.

An object of the present specification is to provide a housing devicewhich is able to prevent an operating force for pulling out a longobject from becoming excessively great and which is able to stably housethe pulled-out long object therein.

Solution to Problem

A cord housing device disclosed in the present specification is ahousing device for housing a long object and includes a housing, amovable pulley, a first weight, and a movable pulley holding mechanism.An intermediate portion of the long object is wound on the movablepulley, the movable pulley is provided so as to be movable relative tothe housing in an up-down direction, and the movable pulley is movableamong a first position at which the long object is housed within thehousing, a second position at which the long object is pulled out fromthe housing, and a third position which is set between the firstposition and the second position. The long object housed within thehousing is pulled out from the housing when the movable pulley movesupward from the first position toward the second position. The longobject pulled out from the housing is housed in the housing when themovable pulley moves downward from the second position toward the firstposition. The first weight is separated from the movable pulley when themovable pulley moves between the first position and the third position,and moves together with the movable pulley when the movable pulley movesbetween the third position and the second position. Between the firstposition and the second position, the movable pulley holding mechanismswitches between a state where the movable pulley is movable downwardand a state where the movable pulley is immovable downward.

The housing device is switched between a state where the long object ishoused within the housing and a state where the long object is pulledout from the housing, by the movable pulley moving relative to thehousing in the up-down direction. If the weight of the long object, africtional force applied to the long object, and the like are neglected,a force for moving the movable pulley upward is a constant valuedetermined by the weight of the movable pulley when the movable pulleymoves between the first position and the third position, and is aconstant value determined by the weights of the movable pulley and thefirst weight when the movable pulley moves between the third positionand the second position. The weights of the movable pulley and the firstweight are adjustable, and thus it is possible to prevent an operatingforce for pulling out the long object from becoming excessively great.

Meanwhile, a force required in order to house the long object in thehousing is great when the length of the long object that has been pulledout from the housing is long, and is small when the length of the longobject that has been pulled out from the housing is short. Thus, if theforce for housing the long object in the housing is made constant and isset to have an appropriate magnitude when the length of the long objectthat has been pulled out from the housing is long, the force becomesexcessively great when the length of the long object that has beenpulled out from the housing is short. On the other hand, if the forcefor housing the long object in the housing is made constant and is setto have an appropriate magnitude when the length of the long object thathas been pulled out from the housing is short, the force becomesexcessively small when the length of the long object that has beenpulled out from the housing is long. In the above housing device, theforce for housing the long object in the housing is a value determinedby the weights of the movable pulley and the first weight when themovable pulley moves between the second position and the third position,and is a value determined by the weight of the movable pulley when themovable pulley moves between the third position and the first position.In other words, when the length of the long object that has been pulledout from the housing is long, the force is at a value (a large value)determined by the weights of the movable pulley and the first weight,and when the length of the long object that has been pulled out from thehousing is short, the force is at a value (a small value) determined bythe weight of the movable pulley. Therefore, it is possible to stablyhouse the long object in the housing with an appropriate force. Inaddition, the state where the movable pulley is immovable downward canbe provided by the movable pulley holding mechanism, and thus it ispossible to prevent the long object pulled out from the housing frombeing unintentionally housed in the housing.

Here, the “up-down direction” in which the movable pulley moves may besuch a direction that the movable pulley that has moved upward ismovable downward due to its own weight. Thus, in addition to the casewhere the movable pulley moves in the vertical direction, for example,the movable pulley may move obliquely with respect to the verticaldirection.

The above housing device may further include a fixed pulley which isarranged above the movable pulley and on which the intermediate portionof the long object is wound. In this case, when the movable pulley movesupward, the fixed pulley may rotate in a first direction and the longobject may be pulled out from the housing, and when the movable pulleymoves downward, the fixed pulley may rotate in a second directionopposite to the first direction and the long object may be housed in thehousing. The movable pulley holding mechanism may not restrict the fixedpulley from rotating in the first direction, and may switch between astate where the fixed pulley is restricted from rotating in the seconddirection and a state where the fixed pulley is not restricted fromrotating in the second direction. With such a configuration, the longobject is guided by the fixed pulley, and thus it is possible tosmoothly pull out and wind up the long object. In addition, whenrotation of the fixed pulley is stopped, it is possible to keep theposition of the movable pulley in the up-down direction.

It should be noted that the movable pulley holding mechanism may includea ratchet gear which is fixed to the fixed pulley and a ratchet pawlwhich engages with the ratchet gear. The use of such a ratchet mechanismallows the position of the movable pulley in the up-down direction to bekept.

The above housing device may further include a pressing roller whichpresses the long object against an outer peripheral surface of the fixedpulley. The pressing roller may rotate in accordance with rotation ofthe fixed pulley, and may stop rotating when the rotation of the fixedpulley stops. According to such a configuration, it is possible to windup the long object on the outer peripheral surface of the fixed pulleywithout looseness. Thus, it is possible to obtain a favorable operationfeeling.

The above housing device may further include a guide which is mounted onthe housing and extends in the up-down direction within the housing. Anengagement portion which engages with the guide may be formed in themovable pulley, and the movable pulley may move in the up-down directionwhile being guided by the guide. According to such a configuration, themovable pulley is guided by the guide, and thus a mechanism which guidesthe movable pulley is allowed to have a simple configuration.

In the above housing device, a second weight may be mounted on themovable pulley. In this case, a center of gravity of the movable pulleyin a state where the second weight is mounted thereon is preferablylower than a center of gravity of the movable pulley in a state wherethe second weight is not mounted thereon. According to such aconfiguration, behavior of the movable pulley is stabilized, and it ispossible to stably pull out or house the long object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a housing device of an embodiment and is adiagram showing the internal structure of the housing device by cuttinga housing (a state where a charging cable is housed within the housing).

FIG. 2 is a front view of the housing device of the embodiment and is adiagram showing also the internal structure within the housing (thestate where the charging cable is housed within the housing).

FIG. 3 is a side view of the housing device of the embodiment and is adiagram showing the internal structure of the housing device by cuttingthe housing (a state where the charging cable is pulled out from thehousing).

FIG. 4 is a front view of the housing device of the embodiment and is adiagram showing also the internal structure within the housing (thestate where the charging cable is pulled out from the housing).

FIG. 5 is a front view of a fixed pulley unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the fixed pulley unit as viewed at a positionalong a VI-VI line in FIG. 5. It should be noted that FIG. 6 does notshow a cross-section of the fixed pulley unit taken along the VI-VIline.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a fixed pulley.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a ratchet mechanism provided in thefixed pulley unit.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a movable pulley unit.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the movable pulley unit.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a second weight.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a guidemechanism.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a housingdevice according to a modification.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a fixed pulley unit according to amodification.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a ratchet mechanism provided in thefixed pulley unit in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a portion of a ratchet pawl in an enlargedmanner.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a pressing roller mechanism in an enlargedmanner.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a pressing roller.

FIG. 19 is a diagram (part 1) showing, in an enlarged manner, a grooveformed on an outer peripheral surface of a fixed pulley.

FIG. 20 is a diagram (part 2) showing, in an enlarged manner, a grooveformed on an outer peripheral surface of a fixed pulley.

FIG. 21 is a diagram (part 3) showing, in an enlarged manner, a grooveformed on an outer peripheral surface of a fixed pulley.

FIG. 22 is a diagram (part 4) showing, in an enlarged manner, a grooveformed on an outer peripheral surface of a fixed pulley.

FIG. 23 is a diagram (part 5) showing, in an enlarged manner, a grooveformed on an outer peripheral surface of a fixed pulley.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A housing device 10 of an embodiment is a so-called charging station andhouses a charging cable 100 for charging a battery mounted in anelectric vehicle (EV) or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). As shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, the housing device 10 includes a housing 12 and a pulleymechanism (a fixed pulley unit 50 and a movable pulley unit 20) housedwithin the housing 12.

The housing 12 is formed, for example, in a rectangular parallelepipedshape from a plurality of plates. It should be noted that the shape ofthe housing 12 is not limited to the rectangular parallelepiped shapeand the housing 12 can be formed in a circular column shape or apolygonal column shape (e.g., a hexagonal column shape). As shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, a hook 13 is formed on a surface of the housing 12 fromwhich the charging cable 100 is pulled out. The hook 13 is able to holda charging connector 110 provided at a leading end of the charging cable100.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a through hole 14 is formed in aside plate of the housing 12. The through hole 14 faces a CCID (ChargingCircuit Interrupt Device) 90 arranged within the housing 12. A base endof the charging cable 100 is connected to the CCID 90. The CCID 90 isconnected to an external power source, which is not shown, by a powercord 102. A user is allowed to view a display portion of the CCID 90through the through hole 14 of the housing 12, thereby recognizing astate of charge of a battery.

The pulley mechanism includes the fixed pulley unit 50 and the movablepulley unit 20. An intermediate portion of the charging cable 100 (i.e.,a portion between the leading end and the base end of the charging cable100) is wound on the fixed pulley unit 50 and the movable pulley unit 20as described in detail later. The fixed pulley unit 50 is mounted on atop plate of the housing 12 so as to be immovable relative to thehousing 12 in an up-down direction. Upper ends of guide wires 16 arefixed to the fixed pulley unit 50, and lower ends of the guide wires 16are fixed to a bottom plate of the housing 12.

The movable pulley unit 20 is movable within the housing 12 in theup-down direction while being guided by the guide wires 16. In a statewhere the movable pulley unit 20 is located at a bottom portion of thehousing 12 (a state in FIGS. 1 and 2), the charging cable 100 is fullyhoused within the housing 12. In a state where the movable pulley unit20 is located at an upper portion of the housing 12 (a state in FIGS. 3and 4), the charging cable 100 is pulled out most from the housing 12.In other words, when the movable pulley unit 20 moves within the housing12 from the lower portion toward the upper portion, the charging cable100 housed within the housing 12 is pulled out from the housing 12. Onthe other hand, when the movable pulley unit 20 moves within the housing12 from the upper portion toward the lower portion, the charging cable100 pulled out from the housing 12 is housed in the housing 12.

It should be noted that first weights 18 are mounted on theabove-described guide wires 16. As is clear from FIGS. 1 and 2, in thestate where the movable pulley unit 20 is located at the bottom portionof the housing 12, the first weights 18 are supported by the guide wires16. On the other hand, as is clear from FIGS. 3 and 4, in the statewhere the movable pulley unit 20 is located at the upper portion of thehousing 12, the first weights 18 are supported by the movable pulleyunit 20. In other words, the movable pulley unit 20 and the firstweights 18 move together during a period when the movable pulley unit 20moves between a position at which the movable pulley unit 20 comes intocontact with bottom surfaces of the first weights 18 and a positionshown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Next, the fixed pulley unit 50 will be described in detail. As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, the fixed pulley unit 50 includes two support plates 52,a first shaft 54 fixed to the support plates 52, and four fixed pulleys60 supported rotatably on the first shaft 54.

The support plates 52 are plates having substantially a rectangularshape when being seen in a front view, and upper ends thereof areattached to the top plate of the housing 12. Mounting portions 46 areformed at substantially the centers of the support plates 52, and theupper ends of the guide wires 16 are attached to the mounting portions46.

The first shaft 54 is fixed at one end thereof to one of the two supportplates 52 and is fixed at the other end thereof to the other of the twosupport plates 52. In other words, the first shaft 54 connects the twosupport plates 52 to each other. The four fixed pulleys 60 are rotatablymounted on the first shaft 54. In a state where each fixed pulley 60 ismounted on the first shaft 54, the four fixed pulleys 60 are interposedbetween the two support plates 52. Since the four fixed pulleys 60 aremounted on the single first shaft 54, the rotation axes of the fourfixed pulleys 60 are located on the same straight line and the fourfixed pulleys 60 are arranged so as to be aligned in the direction ofthe rotation axes.

As shown in FIG. 7, each fixed pulley 60 includes a main body 62 and arubber sheet 66 mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the main body62. A bearing 64 is provided between an inner peripheral surface of themain body 62 and an outer peripheral surface of the first shaft 54. Inthe present embodiment, since each fixed pulley 60 is supported on thefirst shaft 54 via the bearing 64, each fixed pulley 60 is rotatablearound the first shaft 54 with a small three. Meanwhile, a groove 62 ais formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 62 in orderto prevent falling off of the charging cable 100. The rubber sheet 66 ismounted on a bottom surface of the groove 62 a. Thus, when the chargingcable 100 is wound on the fixed pulley 60, the charging cable 100 isbrought into contact with the rubber sheet 66. In the presentembodiment, since the rubber sheet 66 is provided on the outerperipheral surface of the main body 62, occurrence of slippage betweenthe fixed pulley 60 and the charging cable 100 is prevented. Thus,smooth pulling out and winding up of the charging cable 100 are allowed.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a first gear 80 and a ratchet gear 70 arefixed to the fixed pulley 60 on which the leading end side (the chargingconnector 110 side) of the charging cable 100 is wound (the rightmostfixed pulley in the FIG. 6), of the four fixed pulleys 60. Specifically,the first gear 80 is fixed to one lateral surface (a left lateralsurface in FIG. 6) of the fixed pulley 60, and the ratchet gear 70 isfixed to the other lateral surface (a right lateral surface in FIG. 6)of the fixed pulley 60.

As clearly shown in FIG. 6, the first gear 80 meshes with a second gear82, and the second gear 82 is fixed to a second shaft 84. The secondshaft 84 is rotatably supported at one end thereof by one of the supportplates 52 and is rotatably supported at the other end thereof by theother support plate 52. A pressing roller 57 is mounted on the secondshaft 84. The pressing roller 57 presses the charging cable 100 wound onthe fixed pulley 60, toward the fixed pulley 60 side to restrainslippage between the fixed pulley 60 and the charging cable 100.

As is clear from FIG. 6, the diameter of the fixed pulley 60 and thediameter of the pressing roller 57 are different from each other. Forthis reason, in order to pull out the charging cable 100 without thecharging cable 100 slipping on the fixed pulley 60 and the pressingroller 57, a rotation speed of the fixed pulley 60 and a rotation speedof the pressing roller 57 need to be different from each other. Thus, aone-way clutch which is not shown is provided between the second shaft84 and the pressing roller 57. When the charging cable 100 is pulledout, the one-way clutch does not engage with the second shaft 84 and thepressing roller 57 is allowed to freely rotate relative to the secondshaft 84. Therefore, when the fixed pulley 60 rotates, the rotation istransmitted to the second shaft 84 via the first gear 80 and the secondgear 82, whereby the second shaft 84 rotates. However, since the one-wayclutch does not engage with the second shaft 84, the pressing roller 57rotates at a rotation speed different from the rotation speed of thefixed pulley 60. As a result, the charging cable 100 is smoothly pulledout from the fixed pulley 60 while slippage between the charging cable100, and the fixed pulley 60 and the pressing roller 57 is restrained.On the other hand, when rotation of the fixed pulley 60 is restricted bya later-described ratchet mechanism, rotation of the second shaft 84 isalso restricted via the first gear 80 and the second gear 82. Theone-way clutch engages with the second shaft 84, and thus rotation ofthe pressing roller 57 is also restricted. As a result, even when it isattempted to forcedly push the charging cable 100 into the housing 12,the pressing roller 57 does not rotate due to the rubber sheet 66 of thefixed pulley 60 and the one-way clutch at the pressing roller 57, andthus the charging cable 100 is not pushed into the housing 12.

As shown in FIG. 8, the ratchet gear 70 includes projection regions 74and recess regions 76. Ratchet grooves (not shown) are formed on anouter peripheral surface 74 a of each projection region 74. A ratchetpawl 78 is engageable with each ratchet groove of each projection region74. An outer peripheral surface of each recess region 76 is recessedfrom the outer peripheral surface 74 a of each projection region 74, andno ratchet groove is formed thereon. Thus, the ratchet gear 70 and theratchet pawl 78 are not engageable with each other at each recess region76. Since the ratchet gear 70 is fixed to the fixed pulley 60, when thefixed pulley 60 rotates, the ratchet gear 70 also rotates. When thefixed pulley 60 rotates in a direction in which the charging cable 100is pulled out (hereinafter, referred to as a pulling-out direction), theratchet gear 70 and the ratchet pawl 78 do not engage with each other,and the ratchet gear 70 and the fixed pulley 60 are allowed to freelyrotate. On the other hand, when the fixed pulley 60 rotates in adirection in which the charging cable 100 is wound up (hereinafter,referred to as a winding-up direction), the ratchet groove and theratchet pawl 78 engage with each other at the projection region 74 ofthe ratchet gear 70, and thus rotation of the ratchet gear 70 and thefixed pulley 60 is restricted. Meanwhile, the ratchet gear 70 and theratchet pawl 78 do not engage with each other at each recess region 76of the ratchet gear 70, and thus rotation of the ratchet gear 70 and thefixed pulley 60 is not restricted. Thus, the ratchet gear 70 and thefixed pulley 60 rotate in the winding-up direction until the ratchetpawl 78 comes into engagement with the ratchet groove of the projectionregion 74 of the ratchet gear 70. Since the housing device 10 of thepresent embodiment has the above configuration, the charging cable 100is pulled out by a desired length and this state can be kept in thehousing device 10. It should be noted that it is possible to release theengagement between the ratchet pawl 78 and the ratchet gear 70 with anoperation switch which is not shown. Therefore, when the operationswitch is operated to release the engagement between the ratchet pawl 78and the ratchet gear 70, the fixed pulley 60 is made rotatable in thewinding-up direction.

It should be noted that as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in addition to thepressing roller 57, various guide rollers 53, 55, and 56 are rotatablymounted on the support plates 52. The guide rollers 53 and 55 guide theleading end side of the charging cable 100 toward the charging connector110. The guide roller 56 is mounted on the centers of upper end edges ofthe support plates 52. The guide roller 56 prevents the charging cable100 from rising from each fixed pulley 60. Since these guide rollers 53,55, and 56 are provided, the frictional resistance between the chargingcable 100 and each fixed pulley 60 is reduced. In addition, stoppers 51are mounted on lower end edges of the support plates 52. The stoppers 51are members for restricting upward movement of the movable pulley unit20. The movable pulley unit 20 is restricted from moving upward bycoming into contact with the stoppers 51 (see FIG. 4).

Next, the movable pulley unit 20 will be described in detail. As shownin FIGS. 9 and 10, the movable pulley unit 20 includes two supportplates 22, a third shaft 30 fixed to the support plates 22, and threemovable pulleys 32 supported rotatably on the third shaft 30.

Each support plate 22 includes a first plate portion 26 extendingdownward from a position at which the third shaft 30 is fixed; and twosecond plate portions 24 a and 24 b extending obliquely downward from anupper end of the first plate portion 26. At the upper end and a lowerend of the first plate portion 26, insertion portions 28 a and 28 b areprovided through which the guide wire 16 is inserted. Since the twoinsertion portions 28 a and 28 b are provided in each support plate 22,the movable pulley unit 20 is movable in the up-down direction in astable state while being guided by the guide wires 16. At lower ends ofthe second plate portions 24 a and 24 b, holding members 37 are providedwhich prevent the charging cable 100 from falling off from the movablepulleys 32 (see FIG. 10).

The third shaft 30 is fixed at one end thereof to one of the two supportplates 22 and is fixed at the other end thereof to the other of the twosupport plates 22. The two support plates 22 are connected to each otherby the third shaft 30.

The three movable pulleys 32 are rotatably mounted on the third shaft30. In a state where the movable pulleys 32 are mounted on the thirdshaft 30, the three movable pulleys 32 are interposed between the twosupport plates 22. Since the three movable pulleys 32 are mounted on thesingle third shaft 30, the rotation axes of the three movable pulleys 32are located on the same straight line and the three movable pulleys 32are arranged so as to be aligned in the direction of the rotation axes.The movable pulleys 32 also have the same configuration as the fixedpulleys 60, a groove is formed on an outer peripheral surface of eachmovable pulley 32 in order to prevent falling off of the charging cable100, and a rubber sheet 34 is provided on a bottom surface of thegroove. In addition, each movable pulley 32 is also rotatably supportedon the third shaft 30 via a bearing which is not shown. Since eachmovable pulley 32 is supported on the third shaft 30 via the bearing,each movable pulley 32 is rotatable around the third shaft 30 with asmall force.

As shown in FIG. 10, second weights 36 are provided at the outer sidesof the left and right movable pulleys 32 and between the adjacentmovable pulleys 32, respectively. As shown in FIG. 11, the secondweights 36 are sector-shaped plates and have through holes 38 into whichthe third shaft 30 is inserted. When the third shaft 30 is inserted intothe through holes 38, the second weights 36 are supported so as to berotatable relative to the third shaft 30. Since the second weights 36are sector-shaped plates, the second weights 36 rotate relative to thethird shaft 30 due to their own weights such that the arc portions ofthe sectors are located at the lower side. Therefore, since the secondweights 36 are mounted on the third shaft 30, the center of gravity ofthe movable pulley unit 20 is lowered and behavior of the movable pulleyunit 20 is stabilized. In addition, by providing the second weights 36in the movable pulley unit 20, a force for pulling out the chargingcable 100 from the housing 12 and a force for winding up the chargingcable 100 into the housing 12 are adjusted.

It should be noted that the charging cable 100 is wound on theabove-described fixed pulley unit 50 and the above-described movablepulley unit 20 in the following manner. Specifically, the charging cable100 guided into the housing 12 is initially wounded on the fixed pulley60 to which the first gear 80 and the ratchet gear 70 are fixed (therightmost fixed pulley in FIG. 6), then wound on the one movable pulley32, and subsequently wound on the three fixed pulleys 60 and the twomovable pulleys 32 in order of the fixed pulley 60 and the movablepulley 32.

Here, a guide mechanism 40 which guides up/down movement of the movablepulley unit 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 12. As is clearfrom the above description, the guide mechanism 40 includes the guidewires 16 which guide the movable pulley unit 20. As shown in FIG. 12,the upper end 16 a of the guide wire 16 is attached to the mountingportion 46 of the fixed pulley unit 50. The lower end 16 b of the guidewire 16 is attached to a mounting block 42. The mounting block 42 isfixed to the bottom plate of the housing 12 by means of screws 44. Thus,the guide wire 16 extends in the up-down direction within the housing12. As described above, the insertion portions 28 a and 28 b areprovided in the movable pulley unit 20, and the guide wire 16 isinserted through these insertion portions 28 a and 28 b. Thus, themovable pulley unit 20 moves in the up-down direction within the housing12 while being guided by the guide wires 16.

A support portion 16 c which supports the first weight 18 is provided ata middle point of the guide wire 16. The support portion 16 c is sizedso as to be able to pass through the insertion portions 28 a and 28 b ofthe movable pulley unit 20. Meanwhile, the first weight 18 supported bythe support portion 16 c is composed of three cylindrical weights 18 a,18 b, and 18 c. The guide wire 16 is inserted through center holes ofthe cylindrical weights 18 a, 18 b, and 18 c, and the weights 18 a, 18b, and 18 c are movable in the up-down direction between the upper end16 a and the middle point (the support portion 16 c) of the guide wire16 while being guided by the guide wire 16. In addition, the weights 18a, 18 b, and 18 c are sized so as to not be able to pass through theinsertion portions 28 a and 28 b of the movable pulley unit 20.Therefore, when the movable pulley unit 20 moves between the lower end16 b and the middle point (the support portion 16 c) of the guide wire16, the first weight 18 is supported by the support portion 16 c of theguide wire 16. In other words, the movable pulley unit 20 and the firstweight 18 are separated from each other, and only the movable pulleyunit 20 moves in the up-down direction (see FIGS. 1 and 2). On the otherhand, when the movable pulley unit 20 moves between the middle point(the support portion 16 c) and the upper end 16 a of the guide wire 16,the first weight 18 is supported by the movable pulley unit 20, and themovable pulley unit 20 and the first weight 18 move together in theup-down direction (see FIGS. 3 and 4). It should be noted that theweight of the first weight 18 can be set, for example, to about ½ of thetotal weight of the charging cable 100 housed within the housing 12.

An operation of the above-described housing device 10 will be described.In order to pull out the charging cable 100 from the housing device 10,the user holds the charging connector 110 and applies an operating force(a pulling force) to the charging cable 100 via the charging connector110. Thus, the movable pulley unit 20 (i.e., the movable pulleys 32)moves upward while being guided by the guide wires 16, and the chargingcable 100 is pulled out from the inside of the housing 12. When the userstops applying the operating force (the pulling force) to the chargingcable 100, rotation of the fixed pulley unit 50 stops by the ratchetmechanism (the ratchet gear 70 and the ratchet pawl 78), and the up/downmovement of the movable pulley unit 20 also stops. Thus, in the housingdevice 10 of the present embodiment, the charging cable 100 is pulledout from the inside of the housing 12 by a desired length, and thisstate is kept. Therefore, the user is allowed to easily connect thecharging connector 110 to a vehicle body.

Here, when the movable pulley unit 20 moves between the lower ends 16 band the middle points (the support portions 16 c) of the guide wires 16,the first weights 18 are supported by the support portions 16 c of theguide wires 16, and only the movable pulley unit 20 moves in the up-downdirection (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Therefore, the operating force (thepulling force) for pulling out the charging cable 100 has a magnitudecorresponding to the weight of the movable pulley unit 20 and theweight, the frictional force, and the like of the charging cable 100that has been wound up by the pulley mechanism (the movable pulley unit20 and the fixed pulley unit 50). Although the length of the chargingcable 100 that has been wound up by the pulley mechanism is long and theweight, the frictional force, and the like thereof are great, since themovable pulley unit 20 and the first weight 18 are separated from eachother, the operating force (the pulling force) for pulling out thecharging cable 100 does not become excessively great.

On the other hand, when the movable pulley unit 20 moves between themiddle points (the support portions 16 c) and the upper ends 16 a of theguide wires 16, the first weights 18 are supported by the movable pulleyunit 20, and the movable pulley unit 20 and the first weights 18 movetogether in the up-down direction (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Although themovable pulley unit 20 and the first weights 18 move together, since thelength of the charging cable 100 that has been wound up by the pulleymechanism (the movable pulley unit 20 and the fixed pulley unit 50) isshort and the weight, the frictional force, and the like thereof aresmall, the operating force (the pulling force) for pulling out thecharging cable 100 does not become excessively great. In addition, sincethe movable pulley unit 20 and the first weights 18 move together, asituation is alleviated where the operating force (the pulling force)for pulling out the charging cable 100 is greatly different between thestate where the movable pulley unit 20 is located at the lower ends 16 bof the guide wires 16 (the state in FIGS. 1 and 2) and the state wherethe movable pulley unit 20 is located at the upper ends 16 a of theguide wires (the state in FIGS. 3 and 4).

On the other hand, when the charging cable 100 is housed in the housingdevice 10, engagement between the ratchet gear 70 and the ratchet pawl78 of the ratchet mechanism is released. Thus, the movable pulley unit20 moves downward due to its own weight, and, accordingly, the chargingcable 100 is automatically housed in the housing 12.

Here, when the movable pulley unit 20 moves between the middle points(the support portions 16 c) and the upper ends 16 a of the guide wires16, the movable pulley unit 20 and the first weight 18 move together(the state in FIGS. 3 and 4). Therefore, the force for winding up thecharging cable 100 becomes a force corresponding to the weights of themovable pulley unit 20 and the first weights 18. Meanwhile, when themovable pulley unit 20 moves between the middle points (the supportportions 16 c) and the upper ends 16 a of the guide wires 16, the lengthof the charging cable 100 that has been pulled out from the housing 12is long, and the length of the charging cable 100 that has been wound upby the pulley mechanism is short. Thus, a relatively great force isrequired in order to wind up the charging cable 100. For these reasons,in the housing device 10 of the present embodiment, the force forwinding up the charging cable 100 does not become excessively great, andit is possible to wind up the charging cable 100 with an appropriateforce.

On the other hand, when the movable pulley unit 20 moves between thelower ends 16 b and the middle points (the support portions 16 c) of theguide wires 16, only the movable pulley unit 20 moves (the state inFIGS. 1 and 2). Therefore, the force for winding up the charging cable100 becomes a force corresponding to the weight of the movable pulleyunit 20. Meanwhile, when the movable pulley unit 20 moves between thelower ends 16 b and the middle points (the support portions 16 e) of theguide wires 16, the length of the charging cable 100 that has beenpulled out from the housing 12 is short, and the length of the chargingcable 100 that has been wound up by the pulley mechanism is long.Therefore, a great force is not required in order to wind up thecharging cable 100. For these reasons, it is possible to wind up thecharging cable 100 with an appropriate force.

As is clear from the above description, in the housing device 10 of thepresent embodiment, the charging cable 100 is housed in the housing 12by using the pulley mechanism (the fixed pulley unit 50 and the movablepulley unit 20). Therefore, adjustment of the number and the movementamounts of the movable pulleys allows the length of the charging cablethat can be housed within the housing 12 to be adjusted to any length.In addition, since the simple pulley mechanism is used, a breakdown isless likely to occur.

In addition, in the housing device 10 of the present embodiment, thecharging cable 100 is automatically wound up into the housing 12 byusing the weights of the movable pulley unit 20 and the first weight 18.Thus, the force for pulling out the charging cable 100 does not becomeexcessively great, and the force for winding up the charging cable 100is allowed to have an appropriate magnitude. Therefore, it is possibleto stabilize the force for pulling out the charging cable 100 and theforce for winding up the charging cable 100.

Furthermore, in the housing device 10 of the present embodiment, theguide wires 16 are used in the guide mechanism which guides the movablepulley unit 20. Thus, it is possible to reduce the size of the guidemechanism and it is possible to reduce the size of the housing 12.Moreover, the movable pulleys 32 and the fixed pulleys 60 are rotatablysupported on the shafts 30 and 54 via the bearings. Thus, the frictionalresistances of the movable pulleys 32 and the fixed pulleys 60 arereduced, and it is possible to pull out and wind up the charging cable100 with a small three.

While the details of an embodiment of the present invention have beenexplained above, these are not to be considered as being limitative, oras limiting the scope of the Claims. Embodiments in which variousalterations and changes have been made to the concrete case describedabove by way of example are also included within the scope of thetechniques described in the Claims.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, in the ratchet mechanismwhich restricts rotation of the fixed pulley 60, the engagement betweenthe ratchet pawl 78 and the ratchet gear 70 is released with theoperation switch, but the technology disclosed in the presentspecification is not limited to such an example. For example, as shownin FIGS. 14 to 16, engagement between a ratchet pawl 132 and a ratchetgear 126 may be released by biasing the ratchet pawl 132 to a neutralposition by a return spring 142.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, a fixed pulley unit 150includes two support plates 112 a and 112 b, a shaft 128 fixed to thesesupport plates 112 a and 112 b, and four fixed pulleys 160 supportedrotatably on the shaft 128. The ratchet gear 126 and a gear 114 arefixed to one of the four fixed pulleys 160 (the leftmost fixed pulley inFIG. 14 (i.e., the fixed pulley at the charging connector 110 side)). Asshown in FIG. 15, the ratchet gear 126 includes projection regions 127having ratchet grooves formed on outer peripheral surfaces thereof; andrecess regions 130 whose outer peripheral surfaces are located at therotation axis side with respect to the projection regions 127. Theratchet pawl 132 is engageable with each of the ratchet grooves of theprojection regions 127. At each recess region 130, no ratchet groove isformed and the ratchet gear 126 and the ratchet pawl 132 do not engagewith each other.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the center of the ratchet pawl 132 isrotatably mounted on a shaft 134 fixed to the support plate 112 b. Aguide pin 138 is fixed to a base end of the ratchet pawl 132. The guidepin 138 is inserted through a guide groove 113 formed on the supportplate 112 b. Thus, when the ratchet pawl 132 rotates around the shaft134, the guide pin 138 moves within the guide groove 113. One end of thereturn spring 142 is connected to the guide pin 138. The other end ofthe return spring 142 is fixed to a shaft 140 fixed to the support plate112 b. Since the return spring 142 is provided between the shaft 140 andthe guide pin 138, the guide pin 138 is biased toward a neutral position(the center of the guide groove 113 (a position shown in FIG. 15)).Therefore, when the guide pin 138 is displaced from the neutral positiontoward an end portion of the guide groove 113, a biasing force isapplied to the guide pin 138 such that the guide pin 138 returns to theneutral position. Thus, even when the ratchet pawl 132 has rotated inany of the directions of arrows a and b in FIG. 15, the ratchet pawl 132returns to a state shown in FIG. 15 (the neutral position) at eachrecess region 130 of the ratchet gear 126.

In such a configuration, when the charging cable 100 is pulled out fromthe housing 12, the fixed pulley 160 rotate, and, accordingly, theratchet gear 126 rotates in the direction of an arrow A. In the casewhere the ratchet gear 126 rotates in the direction of the arrow A, whenthe ratchet pawl 132 moves past the projection region 127 of the ratchetgear 126, the ratchet pawl 132 and the projection region 127 come intocontact with each other and the ratchet pawl 132 rotates in thedirection of the arrow a. Thus, when the pulling out of the chargingcable 100 from the housing 12 is stopped in this state, the ratchet pawl132 and the ratchet groove of the ratchet gear 126 engage with eachother. Thus, the ratchet gear 126 is restricted from rotating in thedirection of an arrow B, and the rotation of the fixed pulley 160 stops.As a result, the movable pulley unit is restricted from moving downwarddue to its own weight, and it is possible to prevent the charging cable100 from being unintentionally housed in the housing 12.

On the other hand, in order to release the engagement between theratchet gear 126 and the ratchet pawl 132, the charging cable 100 isfurther pulled out from the housing 12 to rotate the ratchet gear 126 inthe direction of the arrow A. Then, when the ratchet gear 126 is rotateduntil the ratchet pawl 132 comes to a position corresponding to therecess region 130 of the ratchet gear 126, the force pulling out thecharging cable 100 is relaxed, and the ratchet gear 126 is rotated inthe direction of the arrow B. In this case, when the ratchet pawl 132moves past the projection region 127, the ratchet pawl 132 and theprojection region 127 come into contact with each other and the ratchetpawl 132 rotates in the direction of an arrow b. In this state, theratchet pawl 132 and any ratchet groove of the ratchet gear 126 do notengage with each other, and the rotation of the ratchet gear 126 is notrestricted. As a result, the movable pulley unit moves downward due toits own weight, and the charging cable 100 is automatically wound upinto the housing 12.

As is clear from the above description, in the fixed pulley unit 150,simply biasing the ratchet pawl 132 to the neutral position by thereturn spring 142 allows the pulled-out charging cable 100 to beprevented from being unintentionally housed in the housing 12. On theother hand, by starting winding-up of the charging cable 100 when theratchet pawl 132 comes to a position corresponding to the recess region130 of the ratchet gear 126, it is possible to automatically wind up thecharging cable 100 by using the weight of the movable pulley unit.

In the above-described fixed pulley unit 150 as well, as shown in FIG.14, a pressing roller 120 is driven by the gear 114 fixed to the fixedpulley 160. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 17, the gear 114meshes with a gear 118, and the gear 118 is fixed to a shaft 116. Theshaft 116 is rotatably supported by the support plates 112 a and 112 b.The pressing roller 120 is mounted on the shaft 116. The pressing roller120 presses the charging cable 100 wound on the fixed pulley 160, towardthe fixed pulley 160 side to restrain slippage between the fixed pulley160 and the charging cable 100.

As shown in FIG. 18, the pressing roller 120 includes a one-way clutch119 and a cylindrical resin member 121 press-fitted onto an outerperipheral surface of the one-way clutch 119. The one-way clutch 119 ismounted on the shaft 116. When the shaft 116 rotates in a direction inwhich the charging cable 100 is pulled out, the one-way clutch 119 doesnot transmit the rotation of the shaft 116 to the resin member 121.Therefore, when the shaft 116 rotates in the direction in which thecharging cable 100 is pulled out from the housing 12, the resin member121 (i.e., the pressing roller 120) freely rotates regardless of therotation of the shaft 116. Thus, the charging cable 100 is smoothlypulled out from the fixed pulley 160 while slippage between the fixedpulley 160 and the pressing roller 120, and the charging cable 100 isrestrained. On the other hand, when the shaft 116 rotates in a directionin which the charging cable 100 is wound up, the one-way clutch 119transmits the rotation of the shaft 116 to the resin member 121.Therefore, when the shaft 116 rotates in the direction in which thecharging cable 100 is housed in the housing 12, the resin member 121(i.e., the pressing roller 120) rotates in conjunction with the rotationof the shaft 116. Thus, the charging cable 100 is wound up on the fixedpulley 160 without looseness. It should be noted that when rotation ofthe fixed pulley 160 is restricted by the ratchet mechanism, the gear114 does not rotate, and thus the gear 118 and the shaft 116 also do norotate. When the shaft 116 rotates in the direction in which thecharging cable 100 is wound up, the one-way clutch 119 transmits therotation of the shaft 116 to the resin member 121. Therefore, even whenit is attempted to forcedly push the charging cable 100 into the housing12, the pressing roller 120 does not rotate and the charging cable 100is not pushed into the housing 12. Thus, it is possible to wind up thecharging cable 100 into the housing 12 without looseness.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the rubber sheet 66 isprovided on the bottom surface of the groove 62 a on the outerperipheral surface of each fixed pulley 60, but the technology disclosedin the present specification is not limited to such an example. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 19, a thin rubber sheet 162 may be provided ona bottom surface of a groove 164 of the fixed pulley 160. Alternatively,as shown in FIG. 20, a rubber sheet 170 may be provided on a bottomsurface and lateral surfaces of a groove 168 of a fixed pulley 166.Still alternatively, as shown in FIG. 21, a round-shaped groove 174 maybe firmed on an outer peripheral surface of a fixed pulley 172, and arubber sheet 176 may be provided on a bottom surface and lateralsurfaces of the groove 174. Still alternatively, as shown in FIG. 22, agroove 180 having lateral surfaces and a bottom surface which areorthogonal to each other may be formed on an outer peripheral surface ofa fixed pulley 178, and a rubber sheet 182 may be provided on the bottomsurface and the lateral surfaces of the groove 180. Furthermore, asshown in FIG. 23, no rubber sheet may be provided in a groove 186 on anouter peripheral surface of a fixed pulley 184, and the charging cablemay be press-fitted into the groove 186, thereby preventing slippage ofthe charging cable 100.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the housing device(i.e., the charging station) which houses the charging cable 100 istaken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to such anexample, and a housing device which houses a long object such as anelectrical cord, a hose, or the like can be taken as an example.

In addition, in the above described embodiment, the operating force forpulling out the charging cable 100 from the housing 12 (the force forwinding up the charging cable 100 into the housing 12) is adjusted byproviding the second weights 36 in the movable pulley unit 20, but thepresent invention is not limited to such an example. For example, as ina housing device 200 shown in FIG. 13, the movable pulley unit 20 andthe bottom plate of the housing 12 may be connected to each other bysprings 210, and the operating force for pulling out the charging cable100 from the housing 12 may be adjusted by spring forces of the springs210.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the movable pulley unit 20is guided by the guide wires (an example of a guide) provided within thehousing 12, but the technology disclosed in the present specification isnot limited to such an example. For example, a guide rail may beprovided on the inner surface of the housing 12, and the movable pulleyunit may move up and down while being guided by the guide rail. Inaddition, instead of the guide rail, a bar-shaped steel material, aflexible wire, or the like may be used as the “guide”.

Since the technical elements explained in this specification and in thedrawings are capable of providing technical utility either singly or invarious combinations, accordingly they are not to be considered as beinglimited to being combined as described in the Claims of thisapplication. Moreover, the technology shown by way of example in thisspecification and in the drawings is capable of attaining a plurality ofobjectives simultaneously, and has technical utility for attaining eachof those objectives individually.

1. A housing device for housing a long object, the housing device comprising a housing, a movable pulley, a first weight, and a movable pulley holding mechanism, wherein an intermediate portion of the long object is wound on the movable pulley, the movable pulley is provided so as to be movable relative to the housing in an up-down direction, and the movable pulley is movable among a first position at which the long object is housed within the housing, a second position at which the long object is pulled out from the housing, and a third position which is set between the first position and the second position, the long object housed within the housing is pulled out from the housing when the movable pulley moves upward from the first position toward the second position, and the long object pulled out from the housing is housed in the housing when the movable pulley moves downward from the second position toward the first position, the first weight is separated from the movable pulley when the movable pulley moves between the first position and the third position, and moves together with the movable pulley when the movable pulley moves between the third position and the second position, and between the first position and the second position, the movable pulley holding mechanism switches between a state where the movable pulley is movable downward and a state where the movable pulley is immovable downward.
 2. The housing device according to claim 1, further comprising a fixed pulley which is arranged above the movable pulley and on which the intermediate portion of the long object is wound, wherein when the movable pulley moves upward, the fixed pulley rotates in a first direction and the long object is pulled out from the housing, and when the movable pulley moves downward, the fixed pulley rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction and the long object is housed in the housing, and the movable pulley holding mechanism does not restrict the fixed pulley from rotating in the first direction, and switches between a state where the fixed pulley is restricted from rotating in the second direction and a state where the fixed pulley is not restricted from rotating in the second direction.
 3. The housing device according to claim 2, wherein the movable pulley holding mechanism includes a ratchet gear which is fixed to the fixed pulley and a ratchet pawl which engages with the ratchet gear.
 4. The housing device according to claim 3, further comprising a pressing roller which presses the long object against an outer peripheral surface of the fixed pulley, wherein the pressing roller rotates in accordance with rotation of the fixed pulley, and stops rotating when the rotation of the fixed pulley stops.
 5. The housing device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide which is mounted on the housing and extends in the up-down direction within the housing, wherein an engagement portion with which the guide engages is formed in the movable pulley, and the movable pulley moves in the up-down direction while being guided by the guide.
 6. The housing device according to claim 1, further comprising a second weight mounted on the movable pulley, wherein a center of gravity of the movable pulley in a state where the second weight is mounted thereon is lower than a center of gravity of the movable pulley in a state where the second weight is not mounted thereon. 